Automobile-lock.



M. R. ROSEN 84 R. E. FISCHEL.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. I917.

Patented May 14, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEEI I.

M. R. ROSEN & R. E. FtSCHEL. ALIIOMDIBILE LOCK.

APPLICATIOM FILE!) OCT- I. 1911- Patented May 14,

2 SHEEN-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

MAURICE R. ROBEN AND RUDOLPH E. FISCHEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, MAUmcn R. Roses and RUDOLPH E. Frscnnn, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement inAutomobile-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates particularly means adapted to prevent the theft ofauto mobiles; and the primary object is to provide an improvedsteering-wheel and lock equipment adapted to secure the steeringwheel ininoperative condition, when desired.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in whichtional view of a steering-column equippedken plan view of Fig. 3, an enlarged broken secindicated at line 8 ofFig. 2, and showing the steering-wheel in inoperative condition; Fig. 4,a broken sectional view similar to Fig.1), but showing thesteering-wheel in operative condition, that is, locked to thesteering-shaft; Fig. 5, a plan sectional view taken as indicated at line5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a broken plan sectional view taken as indicated atline 6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7, a sectional view of the lock-chamber,showing the lock therein, partly in section.

In the illustration given, A represents the tubular stationary steeringcolumn of a well known automobile, which is equipped with a cap A, inwhich is journaled the steeringshaft A and B, the improved steeringwheeland lock mounted upon the upper end of the shaft A The shaft A isequipped, as is usual in this make of machine, with a pinion 1. throughwhich motion is communicated in the usual manner to the shaft-section(not which actuatcs the steering-knuekles (not shown) of the automobile.

The shaft A, the pinion 1. and the cap A constitute a part of theregular equipment of an automobile of the make referred to.

In practice, the cap A is firmly secured to the upper end of thestationary tubular Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedOctober 1 1917.

.for the lock B Patented May 14, 1918. Serial No. 184,168.

column A, as by screw connection. The is equipped at its upper side witha reduced sleeve portion 2, in which is journaled an enlarged portion 3of the shaft A. Above the enlarged portion 3 the shaft has a portion 3of smaller diameter than the portion 3, and extending upwardly from thepoi tion 3" is a reduced threaded portion 3", which receives a nut 4.

Firmly secured on the portion 3* of the shaft is a journal-collar B,which is pro \idcd circumferentially with a series of sockets 5.

The journal-collar 5 is preferably secured upon the upper extremity ofthe shaft A W means of a key S gournal-collar having an internal whichrests upon the upper end of the enlargement or integral collar 3 of theshaft A". The shoulder at the upper end of the portion 3 issubstantially flush with the upper end of the sleeve but preferablyprojects sul'liciently above the sleeve 2 to enable the member B to heclamped between the shoulder on the shaft and the nut 4. Thejournal-collar B is further provided, preferably, with a sleeve-portion8, which freely encircles the upper portion of the sleeve 2.

The steering-wheel has an enlarged hub-- portion B and a lock B, thechamber of which is formed integrally with the huh portion 13 and one ofthe spokes of like steering-wheel.

In the illustration given. the steering wheel is provided with four armsor spoken 9. which radiate from an intermediate portion of the hub B andhave their outer ends curved downwardly and connected with the circle 10of the steering-wheel. The spokes and the lock are thus disposed abovethe plane of the circle or rim of the wheel. so that the lock is readilyaccessible.

The hub B is somewhat in the form of a cap, having a sleeve-portion 11.which is journaled on the journal-collar B and has a dome-portion 11.which houses the nut 4 and the up er end of the journal-collar B One oft e arms 9 of the Steering-\\'heel is specially formed to provide thechamber his particular arm of the wheel is made tubular, thus providinga bore 12, in which is reciprocably mounted a locking-bolt 13, whoseinner end is adapted shoulder and the nut 4. said to enter any one ofthe sockets 5 with which the journa -collar B is provided. lhe tu bulararm 9 has formed integrally therewith a tubular boss 14, in which, issecured a lock-casin 15 of a lock. Said lock is provided wit arotatable, key-actuated barrel 16, which is adapted to be locked in aposition corresponding with the retracted position of the bolt 13 bymeans of the usual tumblers 17 (one shown), with which the lock isprovided. The lock-casing 15 is held in position in its chamber by meansof a pin 18. The lock-casing is so secured that the barrel 16 iseccentrically positioned, or fpositioned somewhat below the center 0 thelocking-bolt or plunger 13. The rear end of the key-barrel 16 isprovided with a rectangular extension 16, which has firmly securedthereon a bolt-actuating disk or cam 19.

The locking-bolt or plunger 13 has a re duced intermediate portion 13,thus )10- vidin a longitudinal recess 13 in the olt 13, w richaccommodates the actuating disk 19. The disk 19 is :idditionally securedto the key-barrel by rivets or screws 19. The actuating member 19 is ofsomewhat elliptical shape, being provided at one edge with an arm 19".

When the bolt 13 is in the engaging position, the arm 1'5) rests uponthe shoulder afforded by the lower wall of the bore 12, as will beunderstood from Fig. 4. The member 19 is essentially eccentricallypositioued with reference to the barrel 16, and is confined between theshoulders tIll OIClBd by the bolt at the ends of the reduced intermediate portion 13. Thus, the member 19 is adapted to hold the bolt 13either in the operative position or in the retracted position; and itwill be understmnl that the bolt may be positively retracted or projectsby turni the key-barrel through the medium of a suitable key (notshown).

It is preferred to provide a substantial coil spring 20, which aids inholding the bolt 13 in the operative. position, that is, in the positionconnectin the steerin -whee to the shaft. This spring is insert in thebore 12, between the outer end of the bolt 13 and a plug 21, which issecured in the bore 12 by means of a pin "22. The key may, if desired,remain in the lock when the bolt 13 is in the operative position shownin Fig. 4; and by means of the key the barrel 16 may be rotated toretract the bolt 13 against the force of the spring 20, to the positionshown in Fig. 3, whereupon the tumblers 17 will lock the barrel 16 in aposition corresponding with the retracted position of the bolt 13. Thekey may then be withdrawn, leavin the steering-wheel secured ininoperative condition upon the steering-shaft.

Toequip a machine of the character referred to against loss by theft, itis only necessary to remove the ordinary steeringwheel, apply thejournal -collar 13 to the upper extremity of the steering-shaft; andthen apply the steering-wheel equipped with the locking mechanism, asillustrated. The steering-wheel is preferably secured rotatively to thejournal-sleeve B by means of a pin 23, which extends into thehub-portion B of the wheel and engages an annular groove 23 with whichthe upper portion of the member B is provided (Fig. 6).

From the description given, it will be understood that ouninventionprovides a substitute steering-wheel equipped with locking mechanism,which can be readily applied to the steering-shaft of an 3111.01110-bile; that by means of this improvement, the steeringwvheel may beeffectively locked in inoperative or disconnected condition; and thatwhen desired, the steering-wheel may be securely locked to thesteering-shaft, thus enabling the vehicle to be steered as usual. Ifdesired, the construction described may b adopted in the regularmanufacture of the automobile. However, when the automobile is equippedwith the usual fixedly mounted steering-wheel, such steering-wheel maybe remove and the improved device applied by sup lying the im rovedsteeringwheel provide with the loc and the associated journal-collar B.

As has been explained, the central portion of the spider of thesteering-wheel, which comprises the cap-shaped hub B and the radial armsformed integrally therewith, is disposed above the plane of the rim 10of the steering-wheel. This contributes to the accessibility of thelock; and, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2, the whole devicepresents a neat a pearance.

The foregoing detai ed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art.

What We regard as new and desire to secur by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a steerin -shaft having its upper end provided wita reduced extension and a projecting threaded stud, a journal-collarmounted on said reduced extension and provided with a boltsocket andwith a circumferential groove a nut securing said journal-collar to saishaft, a steering-wheel havin a spider provided with a cap-she ed humounted on said journal-collar an pin in said hub enga ing saidcircumferential groove, and a ock mounted in said spider and equi pedwith 1 bolt adapted to engagli a said soc et.

. he combination of a steering shaft, provided with a threadedextremity, a jourrial-collar fitted on said shaft, a, nut seeming saidcollar in position. a steering-Wheel havin a spider provided with acarshaped hu journaled on said j0urnal-co lar and ousing said nut, meanssecuring said hub romlively on said journal-collar, a boltohnmbor and alock-casing chamber formed inn-grab with said spider, a reciprocablecnslng mounted in the loc k-easmg chamber, 10

and a key-actuated member mounted in said lockbolt.

casing and adapted MAURICE RUDOLPH to reciprocate said R. ROSEN. E.FISOHEL.

